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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2008 21:29:21 GMT 10
Hi all,
I was told to keep out of the kitchen so hence joining up on Christmas Eve.
I have been interested in fibreglass and the freedom of shapes that it can do for many years so car, boat and caravan are fibreglass. This also means that you learn to readily work on them (a lot).
I have a 16' Olympic Riviera fibreglass caravan, bought new by my father in 1973, and passed on to our family a number of years ago. So only 2 owners and unfortunately it has been in the open for all of its life. It has stood up to it reasonably well but suffered water ingress and delamination around the windows like atog's. The exterior gel coat now shows its age and will be recoated in the future with new stickers etc. I will send an email to boblor to get the name of his contact re this.
The van has single beds at the rear and a club lounge at the front. All seats and bed mattresses are Dunlopillo, heavy but brilliant to sleep on. It was ordered with vacuum hydraulic drum brakes, Dunford hydraulic corner steadies and a small A/C unit in the front window. On one trip into Queensland the van slid sideways on a muddy road and smacked the LH Rear into an embankment and on another we lost the LH wheel and some fibreglass nearby. All repaired now and waterproof again.
I am gradually restoring and upgrading the van but sometimes other dictates prevail.
To date all windows have been removed, all new surround timbers bonded in, window mechanisms repaired or replaced including twin winders for the large rear window, tinted and sealed in place. No leaks! When we were travelling with our 2 children I designed and built removable bunk beds over the rear beds. They also folded down during the day and formed backrests for the rear single beds, more seating as well as the front club lounge which we could still leave as a dining table.
Holden HQ disk brakes with vacuum boost replace the old drums and the axle sits below the springs increasing the ride height. The wheels and Light Truck tyres match those on my tow vehicle, a 1973 Bedford Campervan with 253 V8, LPG and Disk brake conversion etc. All Regency Park approved.
Other mods include a rear bumper bar which also carries 2 spare wheels. A separate flyscreen door has been added inside the existing fibreglass door which means we can leave the large door latched open and still enjoy the fresh air without flies. The front dining area is a true Club lounge with the seating in a semicircle. The table top was made smaller and the original table support replaced with a chrome tubular swivel base. If we ever need to use the front seats as a double bed the table top still fits in place.
That's probably enough for my intro now so hello to all on the forum.
Regards,
techron
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Post by millard1399 on Dec 26, 2008 20:22:40 GMT 10
Hi techron and welcome to the forum. I'm sure atog will be keen to compare notes with you about your Olympic, ...as soon as he's finished having a merry merry time!! ;D ;D I'm always jealous of people who know the full history of their vans and what's happened to them throughout their life. You can't get any better than a van that's been passed down through the family generations. And it sounds like you've already been a busy busy man with a fair bit of work done on the van already. Perhaps you could put some pictures of your van up into the Hall Of Fame section so we can all drool over your handywork   Good to have you on board, and look forward to hearing some more about your van. cheers, Al. |
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Post by atouchofglass on Dec 28, 2008 7:23:24 GMT 10
Greetings Techron Welcome and hi An Olympic that has only had two owners Very good to see Speaking of which..... looking forward to seeing some photos ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D While the needed repairs are one of those things that age and use brings on..... it is nice to see that the van has been used and not just sat in the backyard as a garden ornament, for kids to admire. "Look Mummy is that were all the garden gnomes live?" The poor ol' Riviera I'm doing up had a hard life as well. See the photos in my thread "Atogs 68 Olympic"...... Hope the restorations going well and look forward to swapping notes with you Cheers Atog |
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Post by terowie on Jan 16, 2009 17:20:28 GMT 10
Hi new here and just joined the van brigade originally just wanting to purchase a van to leave on site however this quest which I have bought but yet to bring home appears to be in reasonable nick and rather than just leave it on site will open up travelling opportunities, oohh nooo I've just turned into one of my pet hates an old fart towing a van, such is life. The description indicated that it's 14 something by 7 something feet L/W. Is there anywhere on the van that has an id plate that I can confirm some details, other than it was built by Quest in Russell St Rosewater just down from the Rosewater pub if in Adelaide. Also what size wheels and what pattern as I intend to get some LT tyres before I pick it up. Cheers Some pics of my purchase    |
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Post by keelz on Jan 16, 2009 17:55:11 GMT 10
Congratulations on the purchase and welcome to the forum. Post yourself up a section under the Hall of fame and start a thread devoted to your van! What a neat lookin' van With the tyres - couple of options. 1. Keeping the existing rims and re-shooding with rubber - Go down to the yard and jack up the van, take the wheels off, take off to a tyre place and get them to strip the existing tyres off. Check condition of the existing steel rims. If ok, you could fit a suitable sized LT tyre. Be warned that many old rims are rusted inside and may not be able to cope with LT's. LT's run at higher pressures say 40-50psi as opposed to older cross ply or passenger vehicle tyres and there is a good chance of splitting an old rim if they are just beyond it. If they're beyond it, replacing the rims is a fairly easy option. 2. Take off one of the existing wheels in the yard. Measure the PCD (Pitch circle diameter) of the stud pattern. Many old vans are old holden or ford running gear. Once you have measured the stud pattern and wheel size eg 13, 14 or 15inches you can figure out what is on the van. You could go off and purchase new or second hand rims and get some LT's fitted and take them with you on the day you go to collect the van and keep the old rims as spares or flog them second hand ;D. Do some searching on Google for PCD and will open up a world of information ;D Also check the existing rims for any stamping/labelling might give you some more info to run with. Once again welcome aboard. cheers Keelz |
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Post by atouchofglass on Jan 25, 2009 9:00:57 GMT 10
Welcome Olfarts
I see you are a regular on V V our sister site
Feel free to post often here as well
Your input is most welcome
Cheers
Atog
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Post by olfarts on Jan 26, 2009 21:19:01 GMT 10
Thanks Atog ;D
Good to see you here as well.
Cheers.
Dave
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Post by atouchofglass on Feb 16, 2009 11:20:01 GMT 10
Hey Tucky29
Glad to see you are enjoying the site .....
How about joining up and making it a neat 90 members?
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Cheers
Atog
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Post by atouchofglass on Feb 18, 2009 7:50:37 GMT 10
Good on you Humps
Your our 90th Member
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Welcome and Hello
Are you doing up or looking for a van at the moment?
And to al the new members I have missed
WELCOME hope you all are enjoying Classic Caravans
Atog
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2009 18:37:16 GMT 10
Hey Atog....... Waddya mean am I doing up or looking for a van?  ??when I've got 3 sunliners, 1...21' Olympic.....a Pommie Carlight and a plywood Castle. I thought you would pick up the tag! Regards....... |
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Post by atouchofglass on Feb 18, 2009 19:18:41 GMT 10
Hey Humps
You greasy ol bugga ;D ;D ;D ;D
I thought it was you but didn't want to be too presumptuous
Welcome aboard ;D ;D ;D ;D
But I don't believe it is you
Post some photos of that Olympic to prove it
;D ;D ;D ;D
Cheers
Atog
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2009 19:22:09 GMT 10
I'm gunna...........someday.........soon. There that proves it doesn't it. ;D ;D ;D Humpty 2. You've never really been the same since you saw my 21 footer have you? ?  I will put photos on soon, but I do work at least 10 hours a day......and try to find time to eat, and upkeep the place......then try to find time to go on the 'puter...............then be back in bed by 9.30 to get some sleep for the next big day. |
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Post by atouchofglass on Feb 18, 2009 19:27:51 GMT 10
Not convinced  You're just teasing us all Note to all the other members that haven't met Humps or Humpy2 Owns a couple of sweet Sunliners a Carlight that is currently being restored And if that wasn't enough He is doing up a 21'Olympic at the same time Can't stand Classic or Vintage Vans.... obviously ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Good to see you on the site Cheers Atog |
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Post by atouchofglass on Mar 12, 2009 6:13:30 GMT 10
Welcome Olsparkie and the other ten new members
Yes in the past two weeks we have had 11 new members join up
So welcome one and all
Have been a bit slack of late..... in the welcoming department
Sadly the number will drop soon as the admin section has time to remove old members that no longer use the forum
Please feel free to post new threads and comment on the ones currently running
New blood equals new ideas and we all need those
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Cheers
Atog
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Post by atouchofglass on Apr 13, 2009 19:37:16 GMT 10
Welcome to our newest members
Case and Louise
Looking forward to your posts
Hope you can master the photobucket monster soon
Then we can see photos of your Olympic
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Cheers
Atog
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Post by atouchofglass on Apr 26, 2009 8:30:04 GMT 10
Warm welcome and hello to our latest members Sorry I can't name everyone ..... but Solo1 is number 84  Feel free to comment or ask questions as there are very knowledgeable members regularly online If you want history of vans Electrics info on Aluminium vans Repairing.. Chassis,aluminium, painting,fibreglass..... The list goes on Or if you have a specific interest and can add to the big bucket of knowledge ..... Welcome ;D ;D ;D ;D Looking forward to hearing from you all Cheers Atog |
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Post by atouchofglass on May 25, 2009 21:33:23 GMT 10
Hey Everyone WoW seems it was only last week we had 84 members and now it's 91 Welcome to all the new members Hope we can help you with any of your projects and challenges ;D ;D ;D ;D Cheers Atog |
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Post by atouchofglass on Jun 27, 2009 15:53:40 GMT 10
Welcome Rolly You are our 100th member ;D ;D ;D ;D Sorry no prize ..... But Welcome anyway ;D ;D ;D  Look forward to seeing the Caravan you are working on or are looking to have Cheers Atog |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2009 16:58:09 GMT 10
Thanks ATOG.
When/if I get my head around the particular "variation on a theme" that drives this sites format I'll post the occasional missive.
I haven't read all the back postings yet. That may take some time.
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Post by atouchofglass on Jul 21, 2009 6:30:40 GMT 10
Hi Everyone A warm Welcome and a hearty handshake to all our new members I try to post a welcome at least once a month Sorry if I haven't welcomed you individually as it isn't really possible for me The number of members is now 110 and growing Welcome to the last ten members of which Sparky is 110 Please feel free to post and comment We would love to hear from each and everyone of you Cheers Atog |
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Post by kiwijim on Aug 7, 2009 4:38:50 GMT 10
Has any-one noticed our Membership tally lately. 112..... fantastic....... A big WELCOME to all our new Members, Please post any photos you have of your pet Vans. Cheers and Beers..........long live the Classics kiwijim |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2009 8:35:35 GMT 10
Not a lot ... but all quality.  |
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Post by atouchofglass on Sept 6, 2009 7:38:55 GMT 10
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Post by atouchofglass on Oct 18, 2009 12:30:06 GMT 10
OOPS Late again Welcome to all out new members and look forward to seeing your vans Glad to see a couple of recent members from VV joining CC Including Humpyboy Welcome also to tomcr02 Glad to have you all aboard feel free to post photos of your vans even if they aren't 70's vans Now 132 members and growing Just as a bit of history When I joined up in Sept 07 there were 42 members from memory...... bit of a change aye ? Cheers Atog |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2009 20:19:14 GMT 10
...........Now 132 members and growing Just as a bit of history When I joined up in Sept 07 there were 42 members from memory...... bit of a change aye ? Cheers Atog A noticeable improvement in the 'couth' department as well |
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